Tarn Hows
Tarn Hows is a popular beauty spot in the Lake District National Park, known for its picturesque artificial lake and surrounding woodland. Originally three smaller tarns, it was created in the 19th century by building a dam, a project started by James Garth Marshall and later acquired by Beatrix Potter, who bequeathed it to the National Trust. Tarn Hows is located in the Lake District between Coniston and Hawkshead. There is a large National Trust car park there, but as roads are quite narrow parking away from the car park is not really practical.
My visit was to include a 2 mile circular walk from the car park around the tarn, including a minor detour to look at some of the waterfalls on Tom Gill.
There isn’t really much to say regarding the route as it is clearly laid out around the lake. Just walk out of the car park, cross the road, and the path is in front of you.
Path leading around Tarn Hows
One of several cascades on Tom Ghyll
Going clockwise around the tarn the path descends from the road and follows the shore line around the lake for roughly the first ¾ of a mile and then starts to climb a little and lead further from the waterside. Almost as soon as you reach the tarn you can detour off to the left of the path and reach Tom Ghyll, flowing out of the tarn towards Coniston Water.
The path is quite rocky and can be slippery and muddy following heavy rain, but the waterfalls are worth a visit. There are a couple of areas of the path that are particularly steep scrambles so you should take care when passing them.
Returning to the main path allows you to complete the circuit of Tarn Hows and return to the car park where there are toilet and cafe facilities.
Tarn Hows
Tarn Hows
Tarn Hows panorama from the road near the car park
Getting There:
From Ambleside, take the A593 towards Skelwith Bridge and then at Clappersgate bear left onto the continue on the A593 until you reach the B5286 signposted for Hawskhead village. Follow the road but before reaching Hawkshead keep right and follow the signs for Tarn Hows and Coniston, and then right again for Tarn Hows. The road is unsuitable for coaches and large vehicles. Continue along the road and over the cattle grid and you will eventually see Tarn Hows on your right. Continue and as you start to pass the tarn you will see the National Trust car park on the left, before you reach the next cattle grid.
There is also a bus service from Hawkshead to Coniston that passes within 1mile of Tarn Hows but the roads aren’t suitable to get any closer by bus.
When you leave the car park if you turn left, rather than returning the way you came, the road passes over a cattle grid and takes you towards Monk Coniston. The road is extremely narrow and windy but offers some great views over towards Coniston. At first it can be a little unnerving but when you get to the bottom you realise that it is one way only so you won’t meet any oncoming traffic. Turning left on to the B5285 will return you towards Hawkshead but turning right will take you to Monk Coniston and Coniston Water (another large car park).
Tarn Hows National Trust car park Grid Ref: SD 326 996. Postcode LA21 8DP